Religious Studies Chapter 5 Key Terms

Questions and Answers

Religious Ritual is an agreed-on formalized pattern of ceremonial movements and verbal expressions carried out in a sacred context; found in every human community and are a primary means of social communication and cohesion. If a symbol is a meaningful sign, this can be called a significant _____

action

What is a mantra?

sacred chant; sounds of more than one syllables

What are rites of passage?

ceremony or event marking important stage in someone's life

Liminal Stage is the transitional stage between pre-ritual status and post-ritual status; it represents ____________

antistructure Signup and view all the answers

What is communitas?

spontaneous bond of communion between members of a society Signup and view all the answers

What does tonsure signify?

shaving head to denote admission into religious order Signup and view all the answers

What is a social puberty rite?

transition from asexual of childhood to adult society that is differentiated by sexual roles Signup and view all the answers

What is Bar Mitzvah?

applied to Jewish boy on his 13th birthday in a synagogue ceremony where he takes on his religious responsibilities in the community Signup and view all the answers

What is a life crisis rite?

ritual dealing with specific life crisis for an individual or community Signup and view all the answers

What is an exorcism?

expelling of evil spirits by use of special ritual or use of holy name Signup and view all the answers

What is the New Year (Akitu) Festival?

spring festival in ancient Mesopotamia of Babylonians Signup and view all the answers

What is propitiation?

to appease or conciliate another Signup and view all the answers

What does expiation mean?

making of amends Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of a scapegoat?

goat sent into wilderness after Jewish priest symbolically laid sins of the people upon it Signup and view all the answers

What is Yom Kippur?

Jewish day of atonement; holiest day of Jewish year Signup and view all the answers

What is a sacrament?

act of Christian Church regarded as visible sign of divine grace Signup and view all the answers

What is a seasonal and calendar rite?

rituals associated with rhythmic changes of nature Signup and view all the answers

All the organs function together to maintain the whole; society is like ______________.

organism Signup and view all the answers

What are rituals of initiation?

Baptisms and Bar Mitzvahs are examples of Signup and view all the answers

Rituals can help to resolve ___________ due to the scarcity or the arbitrary distribution of life's material goods.

social tensions Signup and view all the answers

The act of _________, removing individuals from their old status.

separation Signup and view all the answers

The ___________ stage, frequently marked by some form of social isolation and a condition of status-lessness.

transitional Signup and view all the answers

The __________ stage, signaling the passage to a new status.

reincorporation Signup and view all the answers

What are vocational initiation rites?

initiation ceremonies for special groups or fraternities Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a vocational initiation rite?

Tonsure, ritual in Chinese Buddhism Signup and view all the answers

What are life crisis rites?

undertaken to meet a specific crisis in the life of an individual or a community Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of marriage and funeral rites?

engagement = limbo stage; death = separation stage Signup and view all the answers

The 'leases on life' follow a more or less uniform structure that are described in terms of four principle movements: First comes the rites of _________ symbolizing when one lease of life has drawn to a close and the next is not yet assured.

mortification Signup and view all the answers

Second comes rites of __________ where the community seeks to rid itself of all noxiousness and contagion and of all evil influences.

purgation Signup and view all the answers

Third comes rites of __________ where the community attempts to procure that new lease of life.

invigoration Signup and view all the answers

Last comes rites of __________ which speaks their sense of relief when the new year has begun and the continuance of their own lives is thereby assured.

jubilation Signup and view all the answers

Broadly speaking, all religious ritual is sacramental in that it concerns the presence of the sacred or holy. Sacraments make use of _ things - words, gestures, and objects - for a _ purpose.

temporal; spiritual Signup and view all the answers

_______ are not only performative, but also . This action must be undertaken periodically at certain specified times of the season, the life cycle, or the liturgical calendar.

Sacramental Rite(s); repetitive Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Religious Rituals

Formalized actions and verbal expressions in a sacred context found in every human community.
Serve as a means of social communication and cohesion.
Can be viewed as significant symbols.

Mantras

Sacred chants consisting of sounds that have more than one syllable.

Rites of Passage

Ceremonies or events marking significant stages in a person's life.

Liminal Stage

Transitional phase between pre-ritual and post-ritual status.
Represents an 'antistructure' where normal social order is temporarily suspended.

Communitas

Spontaneous bond among members of a society.
Viewed as holy because it transcends social structures and institutional norms.

Tonsure

The practice of shaving one’s head to signify admission into a religious order, commonly associated with monks.

Ceremonies indicating the transition from asexual childhood to adult society, marked by the differentiation of sexual roles.

Bar Mitzvah

A Jewish ceremony on a boy's 13th birthday signifying his acceptance of religious responsibilities.

Life Crisis Rites

Rituals aimed at addressing specific crises impacting individuals or communities.

Shamans

Religious professionals with special powers to interact with the supernatural.
Undergo rigorous initiations to gain control over spirits for healing and spiritual journeys.

Exorcism

The ritual of expelling evil spirits through special methods or invoking holy names.

New Year (Akitu) Festival

An ancient Mesopotamian spring festival celebrated by the Babylonians.

Propitiation

Act of appeasement, such as reciting prayers for favor before events like games.

Expiation

Act of making amends; represented by symbols like a goat sent into the desert bearing the community's sins.

Scapegoat

A goat sent away after a Jewish priest symbolically places the sins of the people upon it.

Yom Kippur

The holiest day in the Jewish calendar, dedicated to atonement.

Sacrament

Christian acts regarded as visible signs of divine grace, such as baptism.

Seasonal and Calendar Rites

Rituals linked with natural life cycles including seasonal changes, related to agriculture.

Organism Metaphor

Society is compared to an organism where various parts function together to sustain the whole.

Rituals of Initiation

Examples include baptisms and Bar Mitzvahs that signify entry into new social or religious roles.

Rituals help resolve social tensions caused by resource scarcity.
Rituals define social roles and articulate communal beliefs and behaviors.

Common Pattern in Rites of Passage

Rites typically consist of three stages: separation, liminal stage, and reintegration.

Vocational Initiation Rites

Ceremonies for elite groups, demonstrating special knowledge or spiritual abilities.

Marriage and Funeral Rites

Reflect the stages of life, with engagements serving as a limbo stage and funerals indicating separation.

Four Principal Movements of Life Rites

Mortification: Signifies the end of one lease of life.
Purgation: Community cleanses itself from negative influences.
Invigoration: Attempts to secure a new lease of life.
Jubilation: Community expresses relief upon entering a new phase.

Nature of Sacred Rituals

Religious rituals utilize temporal elements for spiritual purposes, encapsulating the connection between the sacred and mundane.

Sacramental Rites

Characterized by repetitive performance at designated times, maintaining meticulous accuracy in execution and representing sacred patterns of behavior.

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